Robot Baristas Serve Up the Future of Coffee at Cafe X(wsj.com)
wsj.com
Robot Baristas Serve Up the Future of Coffee at Cafe X
https://www.wsj.com/articles/robot-baristas-serve-up-the-future-of-coffee-at-cafe-x-1485781201
89 comments
So, a busy robot coffee shop still has 1 (or as many as needed) staff on to handle those situations as their full-time job instead of handling the coffee and the patrons. The point here is the highly repetitive part of making the coffee is automated. You lower the number of bodies needed.
I find videos of robots failing amusing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKMysMDK8wU
I'm sure by now they've gotten it to work though as it's a pretty simple process. I'll have to head over to the mall and check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKMysMDK8wU
I'm sure by now they've gotten it to work though as it's a pretty simple process. I'll have to head over to the mall and check it out.
There's coffee vending machines that can do lattes and cappuccinos. The robot arm is a waste of time, especially since the coffee machine just does all the work anyway.
Not to mention, people go to cafes for the same reason they go to bars. Human interaction, a place to hang out, etc... Otherwise you can get a home coffee machine that does the same as the one at this "cafe"...
Not to mention, people go to cafes for the same reason they go to bars. Human interaction, a place to hang out, etc... Otherwise you can get a home coffee machine that does the same as the one at this "cafe"...
Having a robot tip the milk jug to perfectly froth the milk at a precise angle, at a precise temperature, and pour it in the coffee cup with a bit of random/bespoke latte art — that would be impressive. The actual coffee bit (grinding beans, boiling and pressurising water) is less visually impressive and pretty solved by now.
Maybe they can self-service, or self-clean, but otherwise I don't see how they'd be better than regular self-service coffee machines, which just can't compare (as the whole package) to a skilled barista.
Maybe they can self-service, or self-clean, but otherwise I don't see how they'd be better than regular self-service coffee machines, which just can't compare (as the whole package) to a skilled barista.
Automatically producing an adequate coffee shot is easy, but actually making great coffee by machine isn't solved - mainly due to the subjective nature of selecting the grind settings to optimise for taste. Really good coffee shops (I'm sure you have at least a handful in the US, but they're everywhere in Australia. I'm talking like the little specialty places, not the chains which generally serve fairly crappy coffee) will spend a decent amount of time dialing in the grind in the morning, and then adjusting through the day to account for humidity, ambient temperature, the age of the beans, etc.
Although I'm sure it varies hugely from market to market. On my travels, I've been very surprised at what is considered good coffee overseas, even across Europe!
Although I'm sure it varies hugely from market to market. On my travels, I've been very surprised at what is considered good coffee overseas, even across Europe!
I think it's a market which has a tendency to self-destroy. The more you perfect the process, the worse it gets(for some customers). Think about beer - who do you think makes "better" beer? Small brewery where everything is done by hand, or a massive corporate brewery where every step of the process is monitored for the exact temperature, pressure and chemical composition? The corporate brewery produces perfect beer, every single time. Yet, obviously, that beer is "worse" than beer made by a single person using a manual process(even though that process is less likely to be repeatable and there's far less control over it). If the same person buys several more vats, expands, hires 100 employees, there's a certain point where the beer turns from "crafted beer"(and by definition, being amazing) to "corporate piss water"(and by definition, being piss).
I can only assume that coffee made by a machine, no matter how "perfect" will always lose to the hand made one, for no reason other than the fact that the latter is hand made.
I can only assume that coffee made by a machine, no matter how "perfect" will always lose to the hand made one, for no reason other than the fact that the latter is hand made.
In [my native] Australia, look for the tiniest little coffee shop for the best coffee and avoid chains at all costs. In Europe, I found chains produce the best and most reliable coffee, while your tiny little shops produce amateur coffee. I can't vouch for America but I'm expect a similarly vexing learning curve.
Reliably making great coffee by hand isn't solved either.
The good barista that everyone here is so fond of is not very common.
The good barista that everyone here is so fond of is not very common.
Australian piccolo lattes are genius.
Looks a bit like an over engineered coffee machine to me. On the other, if customers enjoy the experience, why not.
I would say it's just the opposite - they could have sunk a lot of time and money into designing an automated espresso machine, but instead they just combined a multipurpose robot with a typical off-the-shelf espresso machine. Which of course is also more theatrical than a black box (and I would guess also reassures patrons that they are getting real espresso).
Coffee is a combination of the following ingreedients:
An espresso is usually steamed so you'd do the same process but use forced steam then run the evaporated gass through a condensation colum.
It's very doable and probably would yield more ROI/cup because you'll better be able to use time, power, and grindes to better deliver. Also the user experiance of walking up to a wall, clicking a few tick boxes, swiping a card and instantly getting some liquid spit into a cup that is exactly what you ordered sounds a lot nicer for some people.
[0] - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Triton-DI100-GPD-Aquarium-Water-F...
* Water
* Beans filled with caffine
An espresso is usually steamed so you'd do the same process but use forced steam then run the evaporated gass through a condensation colum.
It's very doable and probably would yield more ROI/cup because you'll better be able to use time, power, and grindes to better deliver. Also the user experiance of walking up to a wall, clicking a few tick boxes, swiping a card and instantly getting some liquid spit into a cup that is exactly what you ordered sounds a lot nicer for some people.
[0] - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Triton-DI100-GPD-Aquarium-Water-F...
Makes me think of that Japanese ramen shop that used similar arms from several years back. I wonder if they are still in business?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sVOSlUn7e0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sVOSlUn7e0
There is a bigger restaurant in China I think that served noodles.
Looks more like a fancy vending machine than a robot barista. I was hoping for a portal-style robot eye and multiple robot arm suspended from some form of track on the ceiling.
Non-paywalled article @ http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/a-robotic-b...
Thank you!
There's only one thing no vending machine or robotic barista can do:
justify the cost of a $5 cappuccino.
Having coffee made by a barista is about service, serving, that is a premium compared to coffee made by a machine.
Why would I pay premium price for getting stuff from a will-less machine, that I can get cheaper from other such machines. Having coffee made for me by a human with free will, by free will, being made as well as it possible for a human is what is worth a premium price over the simple cost of ingredients and maintenance. For me, and I thing the future of economy the quality human labour with heart and soul put into the product is worth more than automation ( for the sake of automation)
Why would I pay premium price for getting stuff from a will-less machine, that I can get cheaper from other such machines. Having coffee made for me by a human with free will, by free will, being made as well as it possible for a human is what is worth a premium price over the simple cost of ingredients and maintenance. For me, and I thing the future of economy the quality human labour with heart and soul put into the product is worth more than automation ( for the sake of automation)
Yeah, no kidding. What's the point of having money if someone can't make us a nice submissive cup of coffee.
Forgive me if I have read you wrong, but only from a place of ignorance could a statement like that be said without humor.
You are suggesting that being a Barista is such a low peg on society and such a suffering to endure that it is akin to subservience.
Many baristas are incredibly talented and proud of what they do and make coffee an artisan pursuit. Not only that, but it is perfectly alright to enjoy serving coffee and enjoying customers company even if it isn't an artisan task for you and is just a job.
Regardless of all that, just because you replace a barista with a robot does not mean they will suddenly be interested in STEM fields or art or music or furthering a corporate career. I know you didn't suggest that, but the implication from others seems to be that if someone isn't doing an engineering job then they just aren't living correctly and they sure would if only they didn't have to do their blue collar job. That's clearly not the case nor will it ever be, no matter the will of progress and innovation.
You are suggesting that being a Barista is such a low peg on society and such a suffering to endure that it is akin to subservience.
Many baristas are incredibly talented and proud of what they do and make coffee an artisan pursuit. Not only that, but it is perfectly alright to enjoy serving coffee and enjoying customers company even if it isn't an artisan task for you and is just a job.
Regardless of all that, just because you replace a barista with a robot does not mean they will suddenly be interested in STEM fields or art or music or furthering a corporate career. I know you didn't suggest that, but the implication from others seems to be that if someone isn't doing an engineering job then they just aren't living correctly and they sure would if only they didn't have to do their blue collar job. That's clearly not the case nor will it ever be, no matter the will of progress and innovation.
> replace a barista with a robot does not mean they will suddenly be interested in STEM fields
Any coffee shop that does it will do it just for the money. They won't shed a tear for the barista who is now out of work.
If it doesn't save money, if people remain cheaper than machines, then the barista will keep the job.
Anyway most people who serve coffee are just _serving_ coffee, giving the trade a name doesn't automatically mean that the product is better. In my limited experience of coffee shops (I like coffee but it disagrees with me) the killer features of the good ones are good quality ingredients and repeatability. Whether it's made by machine, barista, or druid incantations it's all the same to me as long as the product is good.
Any coffee shop that does it will do it just for the money. They won't shed a tear for the barista who is now out of work.
If it doesn't save money, if people remain cheaper than machines, then the barista will keep the job.
Anyway most people who serve coffee are just _serving_ coffee, giving the trade a name doesn't automatically mean that the product is better. In my limited experience of coffee shops (I like coffee but it disagrees with me) the killer features of the good ones are good quality ingredients and repeatability. Whether it's made by machine, barista, or druid incantations it's all the same to me as long as the product is good.
I hear you and that's likely the attitude most people have toward coffee and coffee places. Coffee can be a product like a bottle of water, and you can buy it from most places like you would a chocolate bar. For those circumstances which I imagine is the majority, automated coffee would be perfect. But there is definitely a coffee culture beneath that, and it's a lot more like a cocktail bar than a drive through bottle shop for example.
The coffee shops I prefer are usually because the coffee is good, but the people serving and the venue itself were also a great experience. An example is the coffee store next door which has a fireplace, great music, sofas and the people behind the counter are all about getting to know the regulars and making everyone welcome. They take huge pride in what they do, which I guess is what my little rant was about. To call them servants undermines a job that is their passion and that's a bummer.
The coffee shops I prefer are usually because the coffee is good, but the people serving and the venue itself were also a great experience. An example is the coffee store next door which has a fireplace, great music, sofas and the people behind the counter are all about getting to know the regulars and making everyone welcome. They take huge pride in what they do, which I guess is what my little rant was about. To call them servants undermines a job that is their passion and that's a bummer.
> all about getting to know the regulars and making everyone welcome. They take huge pride in what they do, which I guess is what my little rant was about. To call them servants undermines a job that is their passion and that's a bummer.
Couldn't one say exactly the same about a good butler?
Couldn't one say exactly the same about a good butler?
You could and again many buttlers are well paid and passionate about their work. You could argue that even a high paid engineer is a servant to someone. It was more about the idea that someone would only do it if they were forced to by their economic situation, rather than because they want to.
Actually kind of. But I think it is not about being submissive, but creating something for another person, with the will to create joy for the other. Slaves cannot put this premium into things, nor can machines. Paying for mass produced stuff is worth only so much, but hand made stuff is worth more because of this in my eyes.
But sure, you can always bash others for being dominant/submissive and enjoy the company of robots instead, and clap for another step in the direction of a uniformized dull mass produced world, where there is no submission, just freedom within will-less machines. I prefer a different freedom, based on free will.
*edit: phone autocompletion corrected.
But sure, you can always bash others for being dominant/submissive and enjoy the company of robots instead, and clap for another step in the direction of a uniformized dull mass produced world, where there is no submission, just freedom within will-less machines. I prefer a different freedom, based on free will.
*edit: phone autocompletion corrected.
What you wrote resonates with me. I have an espresso machine and grinder at home and I enjoy making coffee for guests and myself. I wish I could pull off even simple latte art.
In a post scarcity world, I imagine human work with its imperfections will have its own wabi sabi value. People already pay a hefty premium for artisan handmade products like pottery, furniture, even jeans.
“I could try composing wonderful musical works, or day-long entertainment epics, but what would that do? Give people pleasure? My wiping this table gives me pleasure. And people come to a clean table, which gives them pleasure. And anyway" - the man laughed - "people die; stars die; universes die. What is any achievement, however great it was, once time itself is dead? Of course, if all I did was wipe tables, then of course it would seem a mean and despicable waste of my huge intellectual potential. But because I choose to do it, it gives me pleasure. And," the man said with a smile, "it's a good way of meeting people. So where are you from, anyway?” ― Iain M. Banks, Use of Weapons
In a post scarcity world, I imagine human work with its imperfections will have its own wabi sabi value. People already pay a hefty premium for artisan handmade products like pottery, furniture, even jeans.
“I could try composing wonderful musical works, or day-long entertainment epics, but what would that do? Give people pleasure? My wiping this table gives me pleasure. And people come to a clean table, which gives them pleasure. And anyway" - the man laughed - "people die; stars die; universes die. What is any achievement, however great it was, once time itself is dead? Of course, if all I did was wipe tables, then of course it would seem a mean and despicable waste of my huge intellectual potential. But because I choose to do it, it gives me pleasure. And," the man said with a smile, "it's a good way of meeting people. So where are you from, anyway?” ― Iain M. Banks, Use of Weapons
If someone puts heart and soul into something, I'd sooner they keep it for themselves. I really just want a good coffee, nothing more.
The issue is, for now, a machine can make good coffee, but it cannot make great coffee. There is a lot of science behind the perfect cup that we still don't understand, thus making a machine understand it is impossible. It is still a craft.
If I go down to one of my local roasters, I know I get servered the near perfect cup. A machine would have to be calibrated multiple times a day to achieve the same level of consistency. And the barista would need to hone his/her skill to keep doing this.
If I go down to one of my local roasters, I know I get servered the near perfect cup. A machine would have to be calibrated multiple times a day to achieve the same level of consistency. And the barista would need to hone his/her skill to keep doing this.
Fully agreeing with your points here.
The perspective I think that hasn't been mentioned is present here in Switzerland - where they make 'Jura' brand superautomatic coffee machines, and culture is such that in any establishment that is not specialty-coffee focused, you will be served your coffee by a robot.
You will still pay top dollar for the middle-aged woman to walk over and press the button for Cafe or Cappuccino, but it will probably taste like burnt rubbish.
To me in particular, any hope of a quality standard of the milk aspect of the coffee is lost completely.
But returning to your points - The 'Jura' standard of coffee is 'good enough', and only not good enough recently to hip-swiss or expats living here. The standard of coffee expected from a barista is significantly higher - I imagine the theoretical Jura coffee machine that can do this would cost an insane amount to build, and to maintain and calibrate.
That is, until we get a real AI powered robot that can optimize and adjust its technique to what is happening in the cup and in the milk jug.
To me in particular, any hope of a quality standard of the milk aspect of the coffee is lost completely.
But returning to your points - The 'Jura' standard of coffee is 'good enough', and only not good enough recently to hip-swiss or expats living here. The standard of coffee expected from a barista is significantly higher - I imagine the theoretical Jura coffee machine that can do this would cost an insane amount to build, and to maintain and calibrate.
That is, until we get a real AI powered robot that can optimize and adjust its technique to what is happening in the cup and in the milk jug.
Caffeine grows a like towards the experience of the medium. It's possible some will prefer Jura? Point is, the 'perfect' coffee depends on brain chemistry, which is influenced by coffee...
> There is a lot of science behind the perfect cup that we still don't understand
Are you sure?
> making a machine understand it is impossible. It is still a craft.
Why? What is a 'craft'?
> A machine would have to be calibrated multiple times a day to achieve the same level of consistency
Don't you mean a simple machine?
There's a lot of science suggesting the perfect cup isn't so objective.
Are you sure?
> making a machine understand it is impossible. It is still a craft.
Why? What is a 'craft'?
> A machine would have to be calibrated multiple times a day to achieve the same level of consistency
Don't you mean a simple machine?
There's a lot of science suggesting the perfect cup isn't so objective.
Things like humidity, water chemistry, and others affect coffee. We don't understand this process in a scientific manner yet, and the art of calibrating rely on our tastebuds to fine tune every method from an espresso machine to a simple turkish coffee. It is still a long way from doable with a machine if you want that perfect cup.
That is not even touching the different parameters such as preinfusion, variable pressure, grind, and changes in temperature during the brewing. To my knowledge we do not know how to process coffee in a way such that a machine can model and understand the human taste buds. And it certainly haven't been applied successfully to coffee brewing yet.
That is not even touching the different parameters such as preinfusion, variable pressure, grind, and changes in temperature during the brewing. To my knowledge we do not know how to process coffee in a way such that a machine can model and understand the human taste buds. And it certainly haven't been applied successfully to coffee brewing yet.
We don't really need to have a machine which models human tastebuds. Coffee brewing is ultimately a chemical process, and so it's naive to suggest that a machine couldn't do it in a better and more repeatable manner than a human can.
What I think you're suggesting is that the settings of that chemical process are configured by the barista based on taste, and that they vary based on a number of environmental conditions.
Surely then all we need to do is to correlate environmental conditions with brewing settings. Assuming there is a relationship to be found, it sounds like the perfect application of either statistics or machine learning.
What I think you're suggesting is that the settings of that chemical process are configured by the barista based on taste, and that they vary based on a number of environmental conditions.
Surely then all we need to do is to correlate environmental conditions with brewing settings. Assuming there is a relationship to be found, it sounds like the perfect application of either statistics or machine learning.
> Surely then all we need to do is to correlate environmental conditions with brewing settings. Assuming there is a relationship to be found, it sounds like the perfect application of either statistics or machine learning.
Big companies have been trying for many years, and after millions of dollars spend in R&D they still don't have it figured out yet. Imagine providing a full automatic machine that can produce a cup better that WBC contenders - it could cost thousands of dollars in service fee every year, and still be cheaper than your run of the mill barista. They really want to do this, but it is far from trivial. Either the blend and roasting profile produce a bland coffee that is less susceptible to variations in brewing parameters, or you need to fine tune it multiple times a day, each being different for every roast you have. Things such as when it was harvested, how much rain the plant got, how it was roasted, how old it is, ect. all influence it, along side things such as current external parameters such as humidity.
Big companies have been trying for many years, and after millions of dollars spend in R&D they still don't have it figured out yet. Imagine providing a full automatic machine that can produce a cup better that WBC contenders - it could cost thousands of dollars in service fee every year, and still be cheaper than your run of the mill barista. They really want to do this, but it is far from trivial. Either the blend and roasting profile produce a bland coffee that is less susceptible to variations in brewing parameters, or you need to fine tune it multiple times a day, each being different for every roast you have. Things such as when it was harvested, how much rain the plant got, how it was roasted, how old it is, ect. all influence it, along side things such as current external parameters such as humidity.
But there are coffee machines that produce amazing coffee automatically, they are expensive though. It's possible there is no market for it. It's also possible this is an emerging market.
They produce amazing coffee, once they have been dialed in, and will continue to do so, as long as they are continuesly calibrated. That is my entire point - we still need baristas to do the calibration. Maybe some day we don't, but until then we cannot say we have it figured out at all.
All of these variables can be determined by a human and then programmed into a machine. We're talking about easily programmable things, not brain surgery.
Yes, we can. But every bean is different, even a different roasting profile means it needs to be calibrated and adjusted differently. It's not a simple matrix of input parameters and bean (yet).
> We don't understand this process in a scientific manner yet
Again, are you sure? There are industry scientists that study this.
Again, are you sure? There are industry scientists that study this.
I'm sure. Either it's a well guarded secret, or they havn't been able to full map the relationships or it's infeasible to make a truly great cup purely with a machine (yet).
What about "Espresso Coffee: The Science of Quality" book?
If you can translate it directly to a computer that can adjust an espresso machine, then yes. But you cannot. It is an amazing book (I own it myself), it is a encyclopedia learn the craft of growing, roasting, and brewing some of the best coffee in the world.
You're most likely right but you seem also much more enthusiastic and passionate about coffee than most. Most people are fine to just get a good (not great) coffee in the morning on their way to work if only it goes fast enough and friction to use this system is low enough.
I certainly am. I'm a coffee nerd to the core. You're completely correct that most people just want a good cup, and they can already get that from McD - it is seriously a good cup. It's not great, but it's fast and the price is reasonable, albeit somewhat expensive for that it is (though, it is cheaper than starbucks and the like).
You would be shocked by the amount of high end coffee bars moving to automatic and PRE dosing for their service. Even barista champions are speaking up the benefits of automated drinks in the favor of good, high quality service.
A machine will make a more consistent cup, day in and day out then any barista.
A machine will make a more consistent cup, day in and day out then any barista.
I highly suggest you read the interview with G&B owners from Barista magazine. They go into detail about why they choose pre-dosing and automated machines over manual service. Their primary reason? Service. There is a lot more to coffee service than just someone spending 3-4 pouring out water over a bed of coffee grounds or tamping a puck.
You can find it here starting on page 72 http://baristamagazine.epubxp.com/i/659497-apr-may-2016
You can find it here starting on page 72 http://baristamagazine.epubxp.com/i/659497-apr-may-2016
I think there is an interesting relationship with our phones that might make these things viable. We fetishize them. If Siri can deliver us perfect lattes - that might work.
Works for us ( https://mecoffee.nl ), an espresso machine PID controller with accompanying app meBarista.
[deleted]
It's a robotic arm on an already automated espresso machine that's existed for years. Calling that a barista is pretty thin...
Yeah, until advanced AI adds some bored-teenager attitude and hipstery snark towards the customer, it's not a barista proper.
teenagers serve coffee where you live? I think you need a humanities degree in NZ and Australia to do that these days...
Right? What a waste of time it is to study such a non-practical skill. Unlike us smart folks, who produce highly valued products and definitely not digital garbage. Now let's all pat ourselves on the back for being so clever.
The startup I work for is developing a back patting app that we hope will help combat impostor syndrome and disrupt the back patting space. We've just completed our Series A round of financing.
Don't forget to do a prior art search first:
https://www.google.com/patents/US4608967
https://www.google.com/patents/US4608967
Lol omg I cant believe that's real!!!!
I think you're reading too much into it. It was really a smartass comment about how people with degrees now do jobs that people who didn't even have high school diplomas used to do.
fair enough, but people need to make enough money to support their families and majoring in Art History is not the best first step towards those goals.
Disagree. If society believes that supporting families is an important social priority, it is up to the government to put in place the best policies to enable that to happen. 'Making money' is only one way to achieve that goal.
I think deductibility of home mortgage interest highly correlates with that goal.
[deleted]
Getting a humanities degree only to serve coffee is what produces the appropriate level of snark.
In that case the snark is justified, since those humanities graduates can see right through the misery of theirs and yours human condition.
I've been ordering coffee all over the world for 25 years. I've never experienced this snarky barista the internet keeps telling me about.
It's just a meme to enable people to look down on them. Snowflake could probably be fit in here too.
Exactly. I would guess that eliminating the robotic arm would increase efficiency and agility. The automated espresso machines that I know already have the automatic cup dispensers, so it is just clicking the button and grab the finished drink. Not waiting behind a glass while a slow arm moves it a meter.
This robotic arm that serves ice cream is much more relevant as it performs a few more tasks (although at the end still a gimmick):
https://youtu.be/mmMn__FNBCM
This robotic arm that serves ice cream is much more relevant as it performs a few more tasks (although at the end still a gimmick):
https://youtu.be/mmMn__FNBCM
mmM! Delicious!
What would be cool is a robotic cocktail bar. It could keep tabs on when you're over the limit, perhaps via a "breath before serve" test. If so, order an uber or notify your self driving car to pick you up. If you're dangerously drunk, it could stop serving you too.
I'd probably call it RoBAR.
I'd probably call it RoBAR.
There are venues like that: You need to buy tokens (from someone who will judge your sobriety, and at a maximum of five tokens at once) and you insert tokens for drinks.
I've not seen it done with cocktails, however, only draught beer taps.
I've not seen it done with cocktails, however, only draught beer taps.
Interesting. Where?
Is the joke that "robar" means "to steal" in Spanish?
I suspect "Automation is eliminating jobs for factory workers" is the main sentence the editor wanted in there. The rest is fluff.
They got ~20 simultaneous news stories published in high profile newspapers / sites. Pretty good clickbait (editor-bait?) story, and not bad PR work by the company.
Also....a 6 DOF arm seems like overkill for this. Hell, you could probably get away with just shoulder yaw and an extra-wide gripper.
No. This is not the "future of coffee." This is a gimmicky airport coffee vending machine.
Why not jus push a button from the 'machine' ?
No, it definitely has to be voice-controlled, like a Starfleet replicator. Until then, I'll just use the machine I have.
They do not understand what drinking coffe is about.
For an oversized office coffe machine it is excellent.
For an oversized office coffe machine it is excellent.
We've had machines that can automatically produces lattes for years, but people choose cafes with human baristas for social/relational reasons.
It's the barista that says "no don't do that" when people do something that's not ok. It's the barista that kindly escorts the loud confused yelling man to the front door. It's also the barista that serves this other rather quirky person a coffee like nothing is the matter, because he knows the quirky person is really just that, quirky, no harm there.
If there's just a coffee machine, I will have to make all those calls myself. If there's just a coffee machine, people will be less at ease.
The barista is the security person more than anything else and keeps us feel safe by not looking or acting the part (because nobody feels safer nearby a security dude). Trying to replace all that by a robot feels very HAL 9000 to me.
And that's why we pay 5x the amount for a coffee served by a barista than a coffee served by a machine.